Review of Evergrey - A Night To Remember Live 2004 (2 Disc Set)

It’s always a nice feeling when you come across a double-disc live release from one of your favorite bands, especially when you had no idea it was in the works. Swedish dark/prog/goth/power/whatever metallers Evergrey, thought it would be a good idea to record a long headline set in their hometown of Gothenburg, and I agree completely. This release, A Night to Remember 2004, spans their entire five-LP discography over its 18-song, two-hour duration. There will also be a DVD release of the same show due out in May, which will most certainly be a must-buy, considering the high-quality of the audio recording.

The production is excellent for a live album, with everything coming through loud and clear, keyboards, guitars, bass, drums, and especially Tom Englund’s voice. His voice is one of the main elements that sets Evergrey apart from the rest of the dark metal pack. His is a charismatic, unique clean voice that makes up in passion what it may lack in technique. It’s the kind of voice that is a little off-putting at first, but then grows on you intensely, due to his conviction and lyrical prowess. The band’s epic sound combines synergistically with his voice. Englund and Danhage write guitar passages that range from the heavy and pulsating to the sorrowful and melodic. Zander’s keyboard playing is haunting yet beautiful. The rhythm section of Håkansson and newest member, drummer Jonas Ekdahl, do their part admirably. Of course the musical performances aren’t as bright and balanced as on a studio album, but for a live album, this is aces.

Evergrey start off on a heavy note on both albums, kicking off the first disc with “Blinded” and “End of Your Days”, and the second disc with “When the Walls Go Down”, from The Inner Circle. As is expected, they hit a lot off that album, their most recent, including “More Than Ever”, “A Touch of Blessing”, and “The Essence of Conviction”. Naturally they hit a handful of hits from Recreation Day, the album that seemed to propel them to worldwide notice. But unlike some bands, they go all the way back, playing “Blackened Dawn” and “For Every Tear That Falls” from the debut The Dark Discovery, as well as “Nosferatu”, “She Speaks to the Dead”, and the excellent “Solitude Within” from the following album, Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy. Not wanting to forget about the alien abduction concept album In Search of Truth, there are a few from that album as well, closing out both discs. Overall, the Gothenburg setlist is a great choice for Evergrey, hitting the well-known songs, and the hidden album gems. It makes me wish I was a Swede.

The bottom line is that this is a requirement for the Evergrey fan. The only question is whether people will pass this over in anticipation of the DVD? What would be really great is if I could see a stellar headline set like this on my continent. Hint, hint…

Release Details

Evergrey

A Night To Remember Live 2004 (2 Disc Set)

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